Built in 1876 the hotel stands at the corner of Main Street and Victoria Terrace, Port Victoria, the site closest to the harbour. As one of the town's earliest buildings the hotel became a focus for social activities. A single storey structure of stone with a corrugated iron roof it has been extended since this photograph was taken. The hotel was originally built by R Honey a timber merchant but sold by him the following year to C V McArthur. Resold several times and extended, as the closest building to the jetty it was a favourite place for the many sailors frequenting the port.

The hotel was used as a consulting room by a solicitor during 1920.

Port Victoria was proclaimed as the town of Wauraltee in 1876, but the port itself was known as Port Victoria. In September 1940 the town itself became Port Victoria.